57219 Issue and Crisis Communication
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 8 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 24 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C04385 Master of Strategic Communication OR 24 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C06129 Graduate Diploma Strategic Communication
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
This subject introduces students to issues and crisis communication for organisations. Students explore the role of effective communication in relation to issues and crises for organisational sustainability in highly mediatised and networked organisational environments. They examine case studies of best and worst practice to understand how issues can escalate into crises, and the shifting role of strategic communication in this nexus. Students critically analyse the link between issues and crisis management and organisational reputation using appropriate theoretical perspectives. Students learn about complexities in developing and implementing strategies and tactics in relation to issues and during crises.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Critique issues and crisis communication practice guided by theory |
|---|---|
| b. | Develop strategy in a time-pressured environment |
| c. | Develop crisis communication response kit |
| d. | Demonstrate proficiency in academic writing and expression |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
- Graduates are able to continually develop the multi-media skills that are required to remain current in professional practice (1.2)
- Critically and creatively rethink and reflect on public relations, advertising and organisational change models and practices for the 21st century beyond dominant models and approaches and seek innovative approaches (2.2)
- Locate, gather, organise and synthesise information across diverse platforms to guide their mastery of contemporary communication issues and challenges (2.3)
- Graduates are able to continually reflect on and interrogate their cultural values, and those of colleagues and organisations (3.2)
- Graduates are able to exercise strong leadership in the development of communication strategies that address challenges and implement solutions on issues of exclusion, equity, cultural difference and social justice (5.1)
- Graduates have high-level knowledge and skills to engage with diverse audiences through both written and oral communication strategies, across a range of media formats, with consideration of others' needs and views (6.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
Students follow a face-to-face and online teaching and learning model. They participate in a variety of weekly face-to-face/synchronous and asynchronous seminar activities online such as simulations, role-playing, collaborative scenario-building, small-group discussions, readings and case study digests, presentations and online discussion forums. Online and open education sources linked with the UTS Library, insights from industry guest lecturers, podcasts, videos and publicly available industry reports are additional resources to help facilitate student learning. Students receive verbal formative feedback in class on students’ general performance prior to the census date.
Content (topics)
Recorded lectures, interactive video conferencing sessions and weekly tutorial activities unpack topics such as the following: issues and crisis communication theory, reputation management during crises, stakeholder mapping for issues and crisis communication, crisis leadership and decision-making, media relations during crises, framing crisis messages, community activism in issues and crisis communication, issues and crisis communication planning, and the impact of social media and the Internet in issues and crisis life cycles.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Report on Crisis Communication Case Study
| Objective(s): | a and d | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1800 words | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Written Crisis Communication Response Kit Based on Crisis Simulation Exercise
| Objective(s): | b, c and d | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 2000 words for entire crisis communication response kit (or equivalent of 5 to 6 pages in total) within the live simulation exercise facilitated in class. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Submission
In this subject assessment tasks are cumulative so that each task builds understanding and/or skills, informed by formative feedback. Consequently, all assessments must be submitted in order for students to receive feedback. Students who do not submit all assessments will not pass the subject.
Required texts
Required weekly readings ara available via UTS Library and Canvas as noted in the Subject Reading List (separate document).
References
Benoit, W.L. 1995b, Accounts, excuses, and apologies: A theory of image restoration. Albany, State University of New York Press, New York.
Benoit, W.L. & Pang, A., 2008, 'Crisis Communication and Image Repair', in T.L. Hansen-Horn & B. Neff, Public Relations. From Theory to Practice, Allyn & Bacon, Pearson, Boston, pp. 31-44, 244-259.
Coombs, W.T. 2007, Ongoing Crisis Communication. Planning, Managing, and Responding, 2nd ed, Sage Publications, Los Angeles, p.70.
Graham, M., Avery, E., Park, S. 2015, 'The role of social media in local government crisis communications', Public Relations Review, Vol. 41, pp. 386-394.
Heath, R.L. 1997, Strategic issues management: organizations and public policy challenges, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California.
Heath, R.L. & Coombs, W.T. 2006, Today’s public relations: an introduction, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California, p.390.
Jin, Y., Liu, B.F., Austin, L. 2014, 'Examining the role of social media in effective crisis management: The effects of crisis origin, information form, and source on publics’ crisis responses', Communication Research, Vol. 41, No.1, pp. 74-94.
Kreps, G. 2008, 'A Weickian Approach to Public Relations and Crisis Management', in T. L. Hansen-Horn & B. Neff, Public Relations. From Theory to Practice, Allyn & Bacon, Pearson, Boston, pp. 20-44.
Mazzei, A. & Ravazzani, S. 2015, 'Internal crisis communication strategies to protect trust relationships: A Study of Italian Companies', International Journal of Business Communication, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 319-337.
Mitroff, I.I., Pearson, C. M., & Harrigan, L.K. 1996, The essential guide to managing corporate crises, Oxford University Press, New York.
Pearson, C.M., & Clair, J.A. 1998, 'Reframing crisis management', Academy of Management Review, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 59-76.
Ulmer, R.R., Seeger, M.W., Sellnow, T.L. 2007, 'Post-crisis communication and renewal: Expanding the parameters of post-crisis discourse', Public Relations Review, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 130-134.